All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer

A silence fell over us as we settled in the living room. So many questions I wanted to ask him, but he seemed so hesitant to answer I didn't want to push him away. He sat next to me looking down at his intertwined hands that dangled between his legs, unmoving. If I didn't know better I would think he was a statue.

I sighed inching closer to him. Carefully I placed my hand on his back. He flinched away and I dropped my hand instantly.

"How can it not matter to you what I am?" His voice was low and harsh.

I sighed. "You are the first person who ever really noticed me. I don't feel like that poor sick girl around you--I feel like a real person--like Bella. That means more to me than you could possibly imagine."

He sighed raking a hand through his thick bronze hair. He still did not look at me.

"Edward it's hard to explain. I just—I need you." I blushed at my confession, but forced myself to continue. "It doesn't matter to me what you are because for the first time since I got sick I feel alive again, and it's all because of you."

He breathed out slowly shaking his head back and forth.

Fear gripped me as I watched him shaking his head in disapproval. Had my confession upset him? Had I finally pushed him away?

"Bella." He breathed. "Heaven help me, but I need you too."

I reached out again resting my small hand on his broad back. This time he didn't flinch away from my touch.

After a moment of silence he looked up at me with pained eyes. "Aren't you at all concerned about my diet?"

"Well, Jacob said something about that."

"What did Jacob say?" His voice had turned sour.

"He told me you and your family only drink animal blood."

"We're not perfect. Sometimes we make mistakes." He answered almost immediately. His eyes begged me to take him seriously, but still I could not feel afraid.

I didn't say anything. He dropped his head down resting it in his hands.

"So what now?" He asked more to himself than to me, but I took that as my cue to ask some of my many questions.

"I am curious about some things."

He lifted his head to look at me, his lips twitching at the corners as he fought back a smile. "I'll make you a deal. I'll answer your questions if you agree to answer mine."

I bit my lip nervously. What could be possibly want to know? "Question for question?" I asked raising my eyebrows at him.

"Question for question." He echoed agreeing to the condition. "Ladies first." He gestured for me to begin waving his hand towards me.

I bit absently on one of my thumbnails as I considered what I should ask him. "Why do you do it, hunt animals instead of people?"

"I don't want to be a monster." His voice was almost inaudible.

He paused. "When did you first find out you were sick?"

"I was 15. I hadn't been feeling well. It started out as me feeling tired more than usual. The headaches soon followed. Once my joints started bothering me my mother insisted on taking me to the doctors." I chuckled once without humor. "I remember that day so clearly. I can still tell you what his office smelt like, peppermint. That day changed my life forever." My voice trailed off as I stared off into the distance focusing on nothing, remembering every detail.

I felt his cold hand brush lightly against my arm reassuringly bringing me back to reality. I smiled weakly at him, turning a soft shade of pink as my skin tingled in the wake of his touch.

"You're turn." He prodded gently.

I thought for a moment. "Don't laugh, but what about things like the sun, and sleeping in coffins?"

He laughed quietly anyway. "Myth. The sun cannot hurt me, nor do I need to sleep in coffins. But I can't exactly go out in the middle of the daylight, at least not where humans can see me. As for sleep…" He hesitated and an odd tone entered his voice. "I can't sleep."

"At all?"

He smiled. "That's more than one question."

I frowned.

He chuckled then paused. "Never." He replied softly.

Abruptly his features changed and his eyes became mischievous. "Why did you really turn Mike down for the dance?"

Instantly I felt myself turning red. "I really wasn't feeling well." I hedged hoping that would be enough, but knowing it wouldn't be.

"Bella." He eyed me reproachfully.

"Fine." I huffed. "Mike is nice and all, but I just don't like him in that way. Besides. I have a plan." Had a plan I added mentally.

"A plan?" He asked arching one of his eyebrows in confusion.

"That's two questions."

He folded his arms across his chest waiting patiently. He smiled, dazzling me stealing my original argument from my mind.

I sighed. "I don't want to be a burden. I don't want people to see me…at the end. My plan was to start over in a place no one knew me—where no one pitied me. My mother would get the opportunity to travel with her new husband and not spend all her time in hospitals." I shrugged. "It was the best thing I could think to give her—only happy memories of me. I would be able to get to know my father better. It's not entirely fair to him, but it's the best solution I could think of." I paused. "I never planned on getting close to anyone here. I never thought…" I trailed off not wanting to complete my thought.

"Never thought what?" He encouraged me gently.

I shook me head grinning. "My turn."

He scowled. I could have sworn I heard a low growl escape his lips, but I dismissed it deciding to file it away for a later question.

"How do you always seem to know things? You're always there when I need you most, and know things, things no one should know, without anyone saying anything to you."

He looked at me for a long time and I could tell he was having an internal debate about whether or not he was going to tell me. I wanted him to know he could trust me so I reached out and gently squeezed his hand. He searched my face a minute longer deciding.

"There are many things about my kind, I myself, do not understand. For reasons unknown to me, or any of us, many of us possess certain abilities. From the time of my…" He paused struggling for the right words. "new birth I have had the ability to read minds." He stated.

I could feel the blood draining form my face. No.

"Don't worry. I can't read yours." He added hurriedly.

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "You can't read my mind? Why not? Am I the only one?" I should have felt relived, but for some reason it bothered me more than it should. Was I some kind of freak? Was there something wrong with me?

He looked at me for a moment, his eyes impenetrable. "I'm not sure why. I can only assume that your brain works differently than the others around you. Yes, you are the first person I have ever met that I could not read." He frowned obviously annoyed by that fact.

I carefully contemplated all he had told me. I wondered what abilities his family might possess. If Edward could read minds what could they do? My mind swirled with possibilities as different images filled my brain.

"Now, back to you." He grinned, tearing me from my thoughts. "What had you never thought?" His voice had turned very soft.

I groaned inwardly. Of course he would have to go back to what I had said before. I looked away from him as I gathered my thoughts. How was I to tell him? I swallowed hard and took a deep breath. I could feel him growing impatient as the seconds ticked by.

"I never thought I would feel the way I do when I'm with you." I could feel my cheeks burn at my confession.

He placed one long finger under my chin and raised my head to look at him. His eyes were deeply curious and kind. "How do I make you feel?" He whispered. His cool breath fanned across my face causing my eyes to glaze over. The smell alone was enough to make me faint—so sweet and delicious.

I tried to turn away, but he held me strong. I looked into his eyes for a minute before answering. "Safe, and…" I hesitated. I couldn't tell him. I just couldn't say the words. Each time I tried they caught in my throat.

"Please Bella?" He pleaded. His voice was compelling-too compelling. I was finding it almost impossible to resist.

I opened my mouth to speak just as the phone rang. He dropped his hand from my face freeing me from his hold. I breathed a sigh of relief as I jumped up from the couch to answer the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey Bells. I'm just calling to check on you."

"Thanks dad. Everything is great."

"Have you had lunch yet?"

I knew he was just being fatherly and caring, but it was annoying to be checked up on all the time.

"Not yet." I glanced at the clock realizing for the first time how late it was. It was nearly 1:30.

"Don't you think you should?" His voice was disapproving.

"I will right now dad. I promise. Thanks for calling. I will see you tonight."

I sighed hanging up the phone. I turned around to find Edward there. I flinched back slightly, surprised.

He smirked and his eyes danced with humor. "I should get going." He announced.

My brows puckered. I didn't want him to leave yet.

He chuckled. "Charlie is right. You need to eat. You should also get some rest."

How did he know what Charlie said? Is super hearing part of the vampire package as well? I filed the new information away for a later time.

"I'm fine." I replied defiantly crossing my arms across my chest.

His lips twitched at the corners as he tried not to smile. "That may well be, but you still need to eat."

My face fell again at the thought of him leaving so soon. He reached out and ran his fingers along my cheek. My skin tingled and felt very warm.

"I'll be back tomorrow to keep you company. If that's all right." He added. I could see the uncertainty in his eyes. Did he honestly think I wouldn't want to see him?

"Yes, that's fine." I verified as a soft blush spread across my face.

He smiled my favorite crooked smile before turning to leave. Just as he got to the door he turned to look at me. "Sleep well Bella." And then he was gone.